Declan Ronayne has left his role as managing director of the Dixons retail operation in Ireland.

His departure comes after the UK group, which trades under the PC World and Currys brands in the UK and Ireland, decided to take the Irish business under its direct day-to-day control in a move that it hopes will further reduce costs.

Well-regarded in the retail industry, Mr Ronayne led the Dixons arm in Ireland for eight years and was commercial director in Ireland with the group for two years prior to that. He has held a number of roles in the past, including being country manager for Mars in the Baltic states and a business development manager with Johnson & Johnson.

Mr Ronayne told the Irish Independent that he left his position last week on the “best of terms” with Dixons and wishes the group and its staff and outlets here well. He said he had already received offers of new employment, but was considering his options before taking the plunge. He is currently on six months’ gardening leave.

Dixons has 30 outlets in Ireland, which employ about 600 staff. In the financial year to the end of last April, DSG Retail Ireland reported revenue of €147.1m, up from €142.2m, and an operating loss of just under €4m compared to a loss of €7.1m a year earlier.

The Dixons Group, which has interests across Europe, has been paring costs and revamping outlets in the UK in the face of the economic slowdown.

It is also likely to benefit from the collapse last year of rival Comet in the UK and the difficulties at HMV.